Nigerians extol virtues of Iwuagwu
From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
Even unto death, eminent Nigerian personalities continues to extolled the virtues of Ezinne Nwere Okwukwe Theresa Iwuagwu nee Onyishi, who gloriously joined her creator at the age of 85 years.
Iwuagwu who was the wife of Mazi Nati Iwuagwu , a renowned veteran Journalist of international repute, an astute politician and community leader among other accolades of societal and humanitarian services, died recently.
The deceased was buried last Saturday at her husband’s Ogbaku community ancestral compound in Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State after a well attended funeral church service at ST. Kevin’s Catholic Parish, Ogbaku.
The burial which turned into cultural and political fiesta, as political bigwigs and business icons honoured her burial with Chief Cletus Ibeto, a Nigerian known business Colossus describing the deceased as a mother and a wife worthy of emulation, while Chief Marcellinus Nlemigbo(Marcon) sees her as a woman of indomitable courage and faith in God.
For Hon. Okey Onyekanma, the immediate past Imo State House of Assembly member that represented Mbaitoli State constituency described, late Ezinne Theresa Uzoamaka Iwuagwu as a professional Nurse that placed God and humanity in the course of her profession.
Even as Dr. Vin Udokwu( Anaefobi), one time Commissioner for Health and Chief of Staff to Imo State Government also described the deceased as a role model to womanhood and uncompromising Nursing professional
The deceased equally received litany of applauses from her mourners that includes; Mother of Rosary, Mama Ave Maria, Mother Theresa of Nigeria as her funeral church service was officiated by 14 Reverend Fathers and 5 Reverend Sisters from Owerri, Nnewi and Ahiara Catholic Archdioceses with Rev. Fr. Vincent Ibeh,the Parish Priest presiding.
Ibeh who took his sermon from the biblical books of Wisdom Chapter 3:1-9, Thessalonians 4:13-16 and John 11:21-27 canvassed on the need for christians to realistically embrace peace, forgiveness, love and unity of purpose among themselves and in whatever endeavours they are associated with as replicated by the deceased.
He applauded the deceased for being an embodiment of Christendom and also enjoined the congregation to emulate all her good virtues.
However, the deceased husband, Mazi Nati Iwuagwu who inadvertently is the Chief Mourner, in his emotionally well worded tribute, lamented, “in my sixty four years of practice as a professional journalist and a veteran, I had never been confronted with the type of dilemma that I now face. What’s it ? It’s all about condensing the experiences of over fifty six years of married life on a sheet of paper measuring eight by eleven inches. All my editorial skills seemed to fail after many exasperating attempts. Kai! If it has to be brief, it must be brief.
I began:”Ezinne Theresa Uzoamaka Iwuagwu, as my wife, my nurse, a mother, grandmother, friend, advisor, counsellor, and all that one meets in marriage, you were excellent from start to finish.” FINITO!
“In obedience, I committed pen to paper.
“I met Tessy, my wife first in Enugu, in 1961. It was in the house of Chief John Nwodo, then Minister of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the Government of Eastern Nigeria Premier, Chief Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara. I was there for a press interview of the Minister for my newspaper, The Daily Express of Nigeria, a sister publication of the London Daily Express.
Even the Minister noticed I had a divided attention.
“Tessy as I called her was very pretty, ebony black. She took special notice of me, as she served us drink. I was a towering six footer plus. The deal was sealed. So began our more than sixty years of relationship.
“Tessy has an incarnate knack for reading one’s mind. This attribute sustained the warmth of our relationship over the decades. She trusted me so much, that I strove to strains to keep my side of the bargain. I was scared to hurt her because of her open innocence. Our home was peaceful.
“As a wife, she knew her duty, her responsibility. Honesty and integrity were her guiding principles. Her humility was disarming. A good manager of scarce resources. She earned our first Nigerian money at the end of the Biafran War by producing starch from cassava.
With the money, she prepared food for us still hiding from fierce Nigerian troops, in nearby bushes. Our Brigade Major, Anukam and our batsmen were all in the bush. She fed all of us, till the coast was clear for us to surface in the open.
“Her belief in God was total. And was never afraid of man. This total surrender to the Will of the Almighty God sustained her during her illness, that had twists and turns. Even under her pains, she always inquired if Mazi, Ezigbodim has eaten. I left strict instructions that responses to such questions must be positive.
“Ezinne Tessy neglected her own interest, to serve others. Even when she couldn’t sit up on bed, she still advised pregnant women on their health.
“Missing Tessy is a grave understatement. If there’s reincarnation, as understood in African culture and tradition, I shall ask for her hand in marriage.My advice to her is that She should adopt the philosophy of “I FIRST.’
The receptions at the community open field Central School and the beautified ancestral home were like a carnival as justified by band stands, cultural troupes, foods, drinks and gifts.
